Ecosystems are distinguished by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors. The slideshow first shows images of each terrestrial ecosystem separated by climate zone, and then finishes with mystery ecosystems for students to identify and describe. Ask your students to identify the abiotic factors such as amount of precipitation, elevation, temperature, etc., and how that affects the life zone of of the ecosystem (biodiversity, height of plant growth, etc.).
Cool Australia: Climate Change Powerpoint PresentationCool Australia
The document discusses the causes and impacts of climate change. It explains that climate change is happening faster than ever before due to human emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from activities like energy use, transportation, and agriculture. This is trapping extra heat in the atmosphere and causing the planet to warm up, altering weather patterns and threatening ecosystems. While some areas may experience benefits from a changing climate, others are likely to face challenges in adapting. The document encourages individual actions to reduce emissions through choices like using less meat and driving less to help address this global problem.
This document contains the schedule of courses, workshops, and development opportunities offered by Heriot-Watt University's Centre for Academic Leadership & Development between January and July 2016. It lists over 100 events organized under programs for Postgraduate Research students, Research Staff, Academic CPD, Global Learning & Teaching, the Scottish Crucible, and the Enterprising Researcher Summer School. All events are free of charge to Heriot-Watt University staff and students but require online booking. The schedule provides dates, titles, and brief descriptions for various lectures, sessions, and workshops focused on research, teaching, leadership, and professional development.
The document provides the calendar of events from September 2015 to July 2016 for the Centre for Academic Leadership & Development at Heriot-Watt University. It lists a variety of programmes, courses, workshops and other development opportunities offered free of charge to PhD students, research associates, teaching fellows, lecturers and professors. The calendar includes leadership programmes, teaching and learning programmes, research development programmes, and workshops on topics like research writing, publishing research, project management and more. Dates, times and locations are provided for each opportunity.
The RRS James Cook will depart in May 2012 on an expedition to study cold-water coral ecosystems in the shallow reefs of Mingulay and deeper coral mounds and reefs on Rockall Bank. The international scientific crew will conduct research to further understand the functional ecology of these ecosystems, both historically and into the future, including coral, sponge, and invertebrate sampling, sediment profiling, oxygen exchange measurements, coral feeding experiments, and carbonate flux measurements. Shipboard experiments will examine the effects of ocean acidification and warming on corals, sponges, and other invertebrates. Outreach activities during the expedition will include features on BBC Scotland and The One Show, and allowing schoolchildren to
Ecosystems are distinguished by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors. The slideshow first shows images of each terrestrial ecosystem separated by climate zone, and then finishes with mystery ecosystems for students to identify and describe. Ask your students to identify the abiotic factors such as amount of precipitation, elevation, temperature, etc., and how that affects the life zone of of the ecosystem (biodiversity, height of plant growth, etc.).
Cool Australia: Climate Change Powerpoint PresentationCool Australia
The document discusses the causes and impacts of climate change. It explains that climate change is happening faster than ever before due to human emissions of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane from activities like energy use, transportation, and agriculture. This is trapping extra heat in the atmosphere and causing the planet to warm up, altering weather patterns and threatening ecosystems. While some areas may experience benefits from a changing climate, others are likely to face challenges in adapting. The document encourages individual actions to reduce emissions through choices like using less meat and driving less to help address this global problem.
This document contains the schedule of courses, workshops, and development opportunities offered by Heriot-Watt University's Centre for Academic Leadership & Development between January and July 2016. It lists over 100 events organized under programs for Postgraduate Research students, Research Staff, Academic CPD, Global Learning & Teaching, the Scottish Crucible, and the Enterprising Researcher Summer School. All events are free of charge to Heriot-Watt University staff and students but require online booking. The schedule provides dates, titles, and brief descriptions for various lectures, sessions, and workshops focused on research, teaching, leadership, and professional development.
The document provides the calendar of events from September 2015 to July 2016 for the Centre for Academic Leadership & Development at Heriot-Watt University. It lists a variety of programmes, courses, workshops and other development opportunities offered free of charge to PhD students, research associates, teaching fellows, lecturers and professors. The calendar includes leadership programmes, teaching and learning programmes, research development programmes, and workshops on topics like research writing, publishing research, project management and more. Dates, times and locations are provided for each opportunity.
The RRS James Cook will depart in May 2012 on an expedition to study cold-water coral ecosystems in the shallow reefs of Mingulay and deeper coral mounds and reefs on Rockall Bank. The international scientific crew will conduct research to further understand the functional ecology of these ecosystems, both historically and into the future, including coral, sponge, and invertebrate sampling, sediment profiling, oxygen exchange measurements, coral feeding experiments, and carbonate flux measurements. Shipboard experiments will examine the effects of ocean acidification and warming on corals, sponges, and other invertebrates. Outreach activities during the expedition will include features on BBC Scotland and The One Show, and allowing schoolchildren to
Cold-water coral reefs located in deep marine environments between 40-3000 meters are at risk from ocean acidification and rising temperatures. These ecosystems support high biodiversity but are difficult to study due to their depth. Researchers use submersibles, ROVs, multibeam sonar and other acoustic sensors to map and model these areas, helping to understand environmental impacts and informing conservation efforts. New sensor technologies aim to improve monitoring of carbon chemistry critical to these habitats.
This document summarizes a study assessing the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa. Nubbins of L. pertusa were collected and subjected to different temperature and carbon dioxide levels over 18 months. Every 3 months, metabolic rates, growth, calcification, and dissolution will be assessed. Additionally, short-term experiments aboard a research vessel exposed coral fragments to varying conditions and measured metabolic and growth responses. The goal is to understand how L. pertusa may acclimate to climate change and the impacts on its ecosystem engineering functions.
The Changing Oceans Expedition visited cold-water coral reefs in the North Atlantic to examine the effect of climate change on these ecosystems. During the expedition, schoolchildren from a local Hebridean high school visited the research vessel to learn first-hand about marine science. The children were able to observe the coral reefs using a remotely operated vehicle, interact with scientists, and help communicate their new understanding back home. The goal was to help the public connect marine science with environmental protection by giving students this educational experience.
Revealing the identity of oil-degrading microorganisms at Deepwater Horizon -...Heriot-Watt University
This document summarizes research on identifying the microorganisms responsible for degrading oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Stable isotope probing was used to label the DNA of oil-degrading bacteria with 13C. Sequencing of the heavy DNA revealed types of bacteria like Marinobacter that dominated oil degradation. Experiments also showed how these bacteria broke down oil into smaller compounds. While the types of bacteria responsible are now known, more details are still needed on the full microbial response over time and the functions and contributions of different bacteria.
Functional and societal importance of biogenic reefs - Bill SandersonHeriot-Watt University
The document discusses the functional and societal importance of biogenic reefs and the role of marine protected areas (MPAs) in their conservation. It provides background on the author's 17 years of experience in government agencies as a marine ecologist and monitoring specialist focusing on species, habitats of conservation importance including biogenic structures and lagoons. It also discusses current research interests in the ecology, biodiversity, monitoring and societal benefits of MPAs and habitats of conservation importance like shellfish reefs and photosynthetic microbial films. Past and ongoing work is also summarized relating to specific studies and locations.
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology Open Day 2012. Presentation on UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme's Changing Oceans Expedition into the North Atlantic
This PhD project examines the effects of seawater temperature, pH, salinity and carbonate saturation on Scottish and Polar bryozoans by analyzing the mineralogy, ultrastructure and growth rates of their calcium carbonate skeletons as well as their biodiversity. The goal is to better understand how climate change may impact benthic marine communities by completing an analysis of the vulnerability of these bryozoan species to changes in environmental conditions.
1) Ecohydrodynamics studies the physical constraints of ecosystems based on time and spatial scales, and incorporates the water characteristics surrounding marine environments.
2) The ecohydrodynamic conditions around cold-water coral reefs determine food and larvae supply through interactions between currents, internal waves, and topography.
3) A 3D ocean model of the Mingulay Reef complex in the Sea of Hebrides shows tidally-driven currents and downwelling of surface waters delivering pulses of food to the reefs every six hours.
Potentiating toxicological interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with...Heriot-Watt University
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology Away Day 2012. Presentation by Mark Hartl on ecotoxicological research into carbon nanotubes in the marine environment
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology Away Day 2012. Presentation by Susan Gallon on Southern elephant seals: A top predator of the southern ocean and a useful vehicle to study its environment
Cold-water coral reefs located in deep marine environments between 40-3000 meters are at risk from ocean acidification and rising temperatures. These ecosystems support high biodiversity but are difficult to study due to their depth. Researchers use submersibles, ROVs, multibeam sonar and other acoustic sensors to map and model these areas, helping to understand environmental impacts and informing conservation efforts. New sensor technologies aim to improve monitoring of carbon chemistry critical to these habitats.
This document summarizes a study assessing the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa. Nubbins of L. pertusa were collected and subjected to different temperature and carbon dioxide levels over 18 months. Every 3 months, metabolic rates, growth, calcification, and dissolution will be assessed. Additionally, short-term experiments aboard a research vessel exposed coral fragments to varying conditions and measured metabolic and growth responses. The goal is to understand how L. pertusa may acclimate to climate change and the impacts on its ecosystem engineering functions.
The Changing Oceans Expedition visited cold-water coral reefs in the North Atlantic to examine the effect of climate change on these ecosystems. During the expedition, schoolchildren from a local Hebridean high school visited the research vessel to learn first-hand about marine science. The children were able to observe the coral reefs using a remotely operated vehicle, interact with scientists, and help communicate their new understanding back home. The goal was to help the public connect marine science with environmental protection by giving students this educational experience.
Revealing the identity of oil-degrading microorganisms at Deepwater Horizon -...Heriot-Watt University
This document summarizes research on identifying the microorganisms responsible for degrading oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Stable isotope probing was used to label the DNA of oil-degrading bacteria with 13C. Sequencing of the heavy DNA revealed types of bacteria like Marinobacter that dominated oil degradation. Experiments also showed how these bacteria broke down oil into smaller compounds. While the types of bacteria responsible are now known, more details are still needed on the full microbial response over time and the functions and contributions of different bacteria.
Functional and societal importance of biogenic reefs - Bill SandersonHeriot-Watt University
The document discusses the functional and societal importance of biogenic reefs and the role of marine protected areas (MPAs) in their conservation. It provides background on the author's 17 years of experience in government agencies as a marine ecologist and monitoring specialist focusing on species, habitats of conservation importance including biogenic structures and lagoons. It also discusses current research interests in the ecology, biodiversity, monitoring and societal benefits of MPAs and habitats of conservation importance like shellfish reefs and photosynthetic microbial films. Past and ongoing work is also summarized relating to specific studies and locations.
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology Open Day 2012. Presentation on UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme's Changing Oceans Expedition into the North Atlantic
This PhD project examines the effects of seawater temperature, pH, salinity and carbonate saturation on Scottish and Polar bryozoans by analyzing the mineralogy, ultrastructure and growth rates of their calcium carbonate skeletons as well as their biodiversity. The goal is to better understand how climate change may impact benthic marine communities by completing an analysis of the vulnerability of these bryozoan species to changes in environmental conditions.
1) Ecohydrodynamics studies the physical constraints of ecosystems based on time and spatial scales, and incorporates the water characteristics surrounding marine environments.
2) The ecohydrodynamic conditions around cold-water coral reefs determine food and larvae supply through interactions between currents, internal waves, and topography.
3) A 3D ocean model of the Mingulay Reef complex in the Sea of Hebrides shows tidally-driven currents and downwelling of surface waters delivering pulses of food to the reefs every six hours.
Potentiating toxicological interaction of single-walled carbon nanotubes with...Heriot-Watt University
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology Away Day 2012. Presentation by Mark Hartl on ecotoxicological research into carbon nanotubes in the marine environment
Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology Away Day 2012. Presentation by Susan Gallon on Southern elephant seals: A top predator of the southern ocean and a useful vehicle to study its environment
The effects of climate change on marine calcifying organisms - Penelope Donohue
1. The effects of climate change on
marine calcifying organisms
Penelope Donohue, Murray Roberts, Maggie Cusack, Nicholas Kamenos
• Free- living red coralline algae -
Lithothamnion glaciale
• Ocean acidification and
increasing temperature
• Systems based approach -
molecular physiology –
proteomics
5 cm
Editor's Notes
Primary organism of focus is the free-living red coralline algaelithothamnionglaciale (maerl or rhodolith)The photograph in the background is the maerl bed at Loch Sween – our field site – important for biodoversity, ecosystem function and provides a nursery ground for important commercial species.Interesting because it is a marine calcifyer (thought to be susceptable to OA) but also a photosynthesising organism (maybe benefit from increases in CO2)….will there be physiological trade-offs???Primary focus is increasing CO2 and temperature – these are major threats for coastal marine systemsUsing this systems based approach it is suggested that we will provide more detail about the specific biological processes affected by GCC which will help to interpret the responses we see at the whole organism levelWe are using in situ experiments and laboratory based short and long term studies.Other systems I am working on include L. pertusa the deep sea coral and also Padinagymnaspora a tropical calcifying reef algae.